Current Exhibition: Celestial Layers
Presenting Stephanie Godoy: Celestial Layers
September 15—December 12, 2025
Celestial Layers features recent work by MVC alumna and Moreno Valley-based artist Stephanie Godoy. The paintings in this exhibition weave together personal narratives, ancient mythologies, and scientific theories surrounding the night sky—exploring the stars that have guided and inspired civilizations across time and cultures.
Learn More About the Exhibition About the Artist
Exhibition Events
- Opening Reception: Thursday, September 18, 1 pm - 2:30 pm in Student Services 217
- Codex Printing Workshop: Tuesday, October 21, 10 am - 2 pm in Coudures Plaza at the MVC Farmer’s Market
- Artist Talk with Stephanie Godoy: Wednesday, November 12, 2:30 pm in Humanities 109
- Viewing Hours: Tuesday and Thursday: 9 am - 2 pm
Featured Artwork
Venus Rising, 2023
72 x 60 inches
The Calendar of Promises, 2022
Acrylic on canvas
48 x 48 inches
About the Exhibition
Celestial Layers features recent work by MVC alumna and Moreno Valley-based artist Stephanie Godoy. The paintings in this exhibition weave together personal narratives, ancient mythologies, and scientific theories surrounding the night sky—exploring the stars that have guided and inspired civilizations across time and cultures.
As a member of the Los Angeles Astronomical Society, Godoy draws on her expanding knowledge of astronomy as inspiration for her creative practice. Celestial Layers introduces a developing body of work that examines contemporary concerns about light pollution through vibrant, electric colors and celestial motifs rooted in deeper cultural histories.
The gallery features compelling imagery: the Mayan lightning deity K'awiil, a constellation of soccer balls orbiting the sun, rising scorpions, and intimate portraits of the artist with family and friends. Through works such as Do You Remember the Stars?, viewers are invited to consider how modern light pollution affects our ability to see the night sky. Together, these works remind us of overlooked sources of knowledge and offer a cautionary tale about their potential disappearance.
"With the common use of ever-present bright lights during nighttime—from streetlights to car lights—we run the risk of losing sight of the planets and skies that once inspired and guided our ancestors," Godoy explains. "Light pollution has been rising at exponential rates. If left unchecked, we may find ourselves living in eternal twilight, disrupting our circadian rhythms and interfering with the wellbeing of nocturnal wildlife. If we collectively use shielded lights, reduce unnecessary brightness, and install motion sensors, we have a shot at preserving our dark night sky and the power it holds."
About the Artist
Stephanie Godoy is a first generation Mexican American artist based in Moreno Valley, California. She is a Moreno Valley College alumna and received her Bachelor’s in Studio Art from California State University, Los Angeles. Her practice is grounded in creating vibrant, figurative paintings rendered in acrylic and oil. Her dreamlike portraits are often placed in nebulous realms, utilizing astronomical motifs to explore intrapersonal landscapes. Godoy’s work has been exhibited widely at institutions across Southern California including The Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art, the Riverside Art Museum, The Ontario Museum of History and Art, and Self Help Graphics in Los Angeles. She currently serves as a teaching artist with the J. Paul Getty Museum while also working as an immigration paralegal.
